Sir Paul McCartney's first guitar goes under the hammer

The first guitar Sir Paul McCartney was taught to play on by his childhood friend will be going up for sale later this month at Cooper Owen's Music Legends auction at Abbery Road Studios in London.

The Rex acoustic guitar, owned by Ian James, is expected to fetch more than £100,000 and will help fund 64 year old Mr James' retirement.

A letter of authenticity from the former Beatle will accompany the guitar which says: "The above guitar belonging to my old school pal Ian James was the first guitar I ever held. It was also the guitar on which I learned my first chords in his house at 43 Elswich Street, Liverpool 8."

Sir Paul mentioned Mr James in "The Beatles" by Hunter Davies, the only biography authorized by the Beatles themselves. In it McCartney describes meeting John Lennon and showing him some chords he didn't know, which James had taught him. Lennon allowed him to join his band, The Quarrymen.

Other highlights will include Jim Morrison’s last known handwritten notebook, a rare collection of lots relating to The Who including two T-shirts worn by Keith Moon, and an archive of Beatles related contracts, flyers and ephemera from the personal collection of Sir George Martin to be sold in aid of his charity.

The sale takes place on Friday 28th July.